Imperial Woman: The Story of the Last Empress of ChinaFrom the Nobel Prize–winning author of The Good Earth: the New York Times–bestselling biography of Tzu Hsi, the concubine who became China’s last empress. In Imperial Woman, Pearl S. Buck brings to life the amazing story of Tzu Hsi, who rose from concubine status to become the working head of the Qing Dynasty. Born from a humble background, Tzu Hsi falls in love with her cousin Jung Lu, a handsome guard—but while still a teenager she is selected, along with her sister and hundreds of other girls, for relocation to the Forbidden City. Already set apart on account of her beauty, she’s determined to be the emperor’s favorite, and devotes all of her talent and cunning to the task. When the emperor dies, she finds herself in a role of supreme power, one she’ll command for nearly fifty years. Much has been written about Tzu Hsi, but no other novel recreates her life—the extraordinary personality, together with the world of court intrigue and the period of national turmoil with which she dealt—as well as Imperial Woman. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Pearl S. Buck including rare images from the author’s estate. |
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Alute asked Audience Hall beautiful bowed Buck Chief Eunuch child Chinese commanded concubine Consort Court courtyard cried curtains dare dead declared door Dowager Mother Dragon Throne edict Empress Dowager Empress Mother enemies evil eyes face fear fell Forbidden City foreign gate gazed gold Grand Councilor guard hand head hear heard heart Heaven Heir hour imperial inquired jade jewels Jung Lu kinsman kneel knew Kuan Yin Lady Mei Li Hung-chang Li Lien-ying Lien-ying lifted lips live looked lord Majesty Manchu mind ministers never night obeisance Pearl Prince Kung province rebels replied robes rose Sakota satin secret sent serving woman Shun silence sister smiled Son of Heaven speak spoke stood strong Su Shun Summer Palace summoned Teh-hai thought told took Tseng Kuo-fan Tzu Hsi Venerable Viceroy voice waited walked walls women words Yehonala yellow yield young Emperor Yüan